1.8 Fragments, Comma Splices, and Run-ons
Polished business writers ensure that their sentences are complete and correctly punctuated. Three common sentence errors are fragments, run-ons, and comma splices.
Fragments
Fragments are incomplete sentences because they are missing a subject, a verb, or a complete idea.
Missing Subject
A sentence fragment can occur if the sentence is missing a subject.
| Missing subject – Incorrect | Completed the report in light speed time. (who completed?) | Ran a security check on the software. (who ran?) |
|---|---|---|
| Corrected | Ryan completed the report in light speed time. | Rajeev ran a security check on the software. |
Missing Verb
A sentence fragment can occur if the sentence is missing a verb, includes an incorrect verb, or has an incomplete verb form.
| Missing or incorrect verb – Incorrect | An excellent video on product enhancement strategies. (verb is missing) | Rafael catched several errors when he ran a systems check. (incorrect verb form) | Rafael watch the training video on product enhancement strategies, tomorrow. (incomplete verb) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corrected | An excellent video on product enhancement strategies is available. | Rafael caught several errors when he ran a systems check. | Rafael will watch the training video on product enhancement strategies, tomorrow. |
Incomplete Clause
A sentence fragment can occur if the sentence is an incomplete thought.
| Incomplete thought – Incorrect | As soon as the client left. (what happened?) | When we started to explore CSR initiatives. (what happened?) | After she re-booted her computer. (what happened?) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corrected | As soon as the client left, we carefully reviewed her concerns. | When we started to explore CSR initiatives, we discovered we have to reconsider our yearly plan. | After she re-booted her computer, she was able to access the material. |
Incorrectly Used Phrases or Transition Words
A sentence fragment can occur if the sentence includes incorrectly used phrases or transition words.
| Incorrect transition or phrase – Incorrect | Such as a computer speed. | And those points about testing reliability. |
|---|---|---|
| Corrected | Things, such as computer speed, should be considered before you make your purchase. | Those points about testing reliability are critical to our research. |
Fragments can be corrected by adding the missing information to make the sentences complete.
Run-ons
Run-ons occur when two independent clauses are joined without punctuation.
- Elon Musk is a world-famous entrepreneur his recent purchase of Twitter has given rise to much speculation.
- Margaret Van Dyck deals with customer service complaints Bonita Kersey deals with credit card payments.
- The new reporting software has many benefits I’m still learning how to use it.
The examples above contain two independent clauses, so they require correct punctuation.
Comma Splices
Comma splices occur when two independent clauses are joined with a comma. Two independent clauses cannot be joined with a comma.
- Chet is the most experienced financial advisor, I would like him on my team.
- We need to have the air conditioning repaired, it’s stiflingly hot in this office.
Correcting run-ons or comma splices
To correct run-ons or comma splices several strategies can be used.
Use correct punctuation to separate the two clauses.
Period/Full Stop
- Elon Musk is a world-famous entrepreneur. His recent purchase of Twitter has given rise to much speculation.
- Margaret Van Dyck deals with customer service complaints. Bonita Kersey deals with credit card payments.
Semi-colon
- Elon Musk is a world-famous entrepreneur; his recent purchase of Twitter has given rise to much speculation.
- We need to have the air conditioning repaired; it’s stiflingly hot in this office.
- Margaret Van Dyck deals with customer service complaints; Bonita Kersey deals with credit card payments.
Note: Use a semicolon only to join two closely related independent clauses. Do not overuse the semi-colon.
Use a conjunction with correct punctuation
Coordinating conjunction and a comma
- Margaret Van Dyck deals with customer service complaints, and Bonita Kersey deals with credit card payments.
- Chet is the most experienced financial advisor, so I would like him on my team.
Conjunctive adverb, a semi-colon and a comma
- Chet is the most experienced financial advisor; therefore, I would like him on my team.
- The new reporting software has many benefits; however, I’m still learning how to use it.
Subordinating conjunction to create a complex sentence
- While Margaret Van Dyck deals with customer service complaints, Bonita Kersey deals with credit card payments.
- Because Chet is the most experienced financial advisor, I would like him on my team.
Note: Use a comma to separate the dependent clause at the beginning of the complex sentence from the independent clause. A comma is not required if the dependent clause is a terminating clause.
Exercises
Use the strategies discussed above to correct the fragment, run-on, and comma splice errors in the sentences below.
- Ryan O’Connor is the project manager all changes must be approved by him.
- Whatever changes you make.
- Our main building is undergoing renovations, please enter it from the back door.
- Because our building is being renovated.
- Our health and safety protocols have been updated review the attached policies and ensure that they are being followed in your department.
- A cyber security breach occurred last night, access to corporate computers is on temporary hold.
- Even though we regularly run cyber security checks.
- Jeff Bezos is the founder of Amazon, he makes personal investments through his capital venture firm, Bezos Expeditions.
- Corporate philanthropy is popular amongst billionaires it does little to solve the root cause of poverty.
- The Gates Trust, for example, holds assets that are greater than the wealth of many countries, the political significance of large-scale philanthropy should be examined.
- The Gates Trust, for example, holding assets that are greater than the wealth of many countries.
- Tim Hortons is Canada’s largest restaurant chain it serves over 5 million cups of coffee every day.
- The global fast fashion industry is a large contributor to the climate crisis the industry produces about 1.2 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.
- First Nations Bank of Canada is a Canadian chartered bank which focuses on delivering financial services to the Indigenous people and economy in Canada, First Nations Bank of Canada is over 80% Indigenous owned and controlled.
- Being over 80% Indigenous owned and controlled.